For a mont, I froze. My eyes widened as Elliot stared at . His familiar scent hit like a tidal wave, surrounding with mories I’d much rather keep buried.
I looked to see who he was sitting across the table from. His fiancée, Isabella. Was it really just a coincidence that they were on a date at the sa restaurant as us?
Isabella must have felt my gaze because she turned and looked at . When she saw that I was with her cousin, her mouth dropped open. Then, the next mont, she was smiling with glee.
But Elliot wasn’t smiling. His jaw clenched, and his gaze narrowed when he looked down to see that my arm was wrapped around Axel’s.
Axel saw what I was looking at, and his expression brightened when he spotted his cousin.
“Excuse a mont, miss,” Axel said, tapping our hostess on the shoulder. “We just saw so friends of ours. Do you mind if we say hi before you show us to our table?”
“Of course not,” the blonde replied flirtatiously. “Take all the ti you need.”
Axel led to their table, and I had no choice but to follow.
“Fancy seeing you two here,” Isabella teased, her eyes glinting with excitent. She looked stunning in a dark blue dress that accentuated her delicate features. “Why didn’t either of you tell you were going on a date? We could have doubled.”
Axel chuckled, and I managed a small smile. But when I looked at Elliot, my stomach stiffened. He was scowling at us, his hands gripping the nu like he was about to rip it in half.
“Funnily enough, going out to dinner with my cousin isn’t my idea of a perfect first date,” Axel joked.
Isabella pouted prettily. “Well, it should be. Because I’m aweso.” Then, she turned to . “Axel is always picky when it cos to the girls he takes out. You must be really special to him, especially since he’s risking my father’s wrath.” A warm look crossed her face as she glanced between us. “You guys look good together.”
“I agree with everything you just said.” Axel wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pressing close against his warm body. “Jasmine is a special girl, and I plan on treating her as such.”
I flushed and couldn’t help but look down at my shoes in embarrassnt. But a small grin spread slowly across my face. It felt good to be praised in this way. I hadn’t felt treasured romantically in a long ti, and it made my heart lift with hope for what was to co.
“Now, you better treat her right tonight, Axel Laken,” Isabella mockingly scolded her cousin. “Jasmine is my friend, and I will hear about it if you don’t.”
Axel trailed his fingers down my arm, making my stomach swoop.
“Don’t worry, I plan to,” Axel answered.
As we spoke, Elliot’s face continued to beco more enraged.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Axel was staring at him with a calculating expression. But Isabella was too busy staring blissfully up at us to notice her fiancé’s anger.
“Well, enjoy your dinner, you two,” Axel said after a mont, giving Elliot a questioning look.
My ex-mate shook his head and cleared his throat. Finally, he managed to rein in his anger.
“Have fun on your date!” Isabella gushed. “I look forward to hearing all about it. From both of you.”
We walked back to the hostess, and she showed us to a private table in the back.
My shoulders relaxed when I could no longer see Elliot. I could still feel his intense glare on the back of my neck, and I wasn’t sure if that was just my imagination playing tricks on .
But as Axel pulled my chair out for , I was determined to forget about my douchebag ex and enjoy my date. Mindie had been right. I needed to get out of my head and start living life in the mont.
But just as I was about to thank Axel for inviting out tonight, a redhead dressed in a low-cut black blouse and a tiny black skirt ca up to our table.
“Good evening, I’m Candy, and I’ll be your server tonight,” she said, only speaking to Axel.
She handed him his nu, making sure that her hand grazed his. Then, she threw down my nu without even looking at .
I fought the urge to frown.
Our server was quickly becoming one of the most annoying won I’d ever t, which was an impressive feat since I knew Clarissa. Wasn’t going on a date with soone about getting to know them? Well, that was hard when she kept interrupting us under the guise of asking how the wine was to Axel’s liking or if he wanted to change the appetizer he ordered.
And the worst part was that Axel was flirting back with her.
“So, what made you interested in art? Did you have a teacher as a young kid who inspired you?” I asked when Candy had finally given us a minute alone.
“It’s a funny story, actually—”
Axel was interrupted by Candy, who set the seared scallops we had ordered as an appetizer in front of him.
The server put her hand on his arm and gave him a flirty wink. I might as well be a potted plant for all the attention she’d shown .
“Is there anything else I can get for you, Mr. Laken?” Candy asked with a seductive tone.
“Oh, please call Axel.” He chuckled rrily. “Thank you, Candy. I’m good for now, but I’ll let you know.”
Then, he squeezed her hand that was on his arm.
A pleased expression crossed her face, and she shot a smug look.
What. The. Hell?
Not only was Axel not stopping the server’s behavior, but he was blatantly flirting with her right in front of . Why was I even here? If this was what Axel thought treating a woman with respect was, then he was crazy.
Once Candy had flounced away, I took my napkin off my lap and threw it on the table.
“If this is how the rest of the night is going to go, I’m leaving,” I said coldly.
Axel froze with shock and dropped his fork on the plate, making a loud clattering sound.
“Why do you want to leave? What did I do wrong?” he asked.
I glared at him and crossed my arms. “You’re flirting with our server right in front of my face! It would be bad enough if she were just coming on to you, but you’re giving her the sa energy right back. Even though we’re not dating, you asked here on a date. It’s beyond disrespectful that you would act like I didn’t exist while you make eyes at her and squeeze her hand.”
“Jasmine, I—”
But I held up my hand to stop him. I wasn’t done. “If the roles were reversed and our server was a guy, how would you feel if I ignored you all night and flirted with him right in front of you?”
Axel’s shoulders slumped, and he hung his head in sha. “I am so sorry, Jasmine.” He reached for my hands and squeezed them gently. I glared back at him and pulled them away, and he looked like a kicked puppy.
“I have a naturally flirty personality, and I will work on that. I’ll set boundaries with her and every other woman I et. I want to make it clear that you’re the only one I’m interested in.”
I muttered sothing and looked away from him. Words of apology were nice, but he had to show he was serious with his actions.
We ate our appetizer in silence, and soon, our server was back. She picked up the empty plate and winked at Axel.
“Have you decided what you’d like to order, handso?” she asked.
Axel frowned. “Candy, it’s inappropriate that you’re calling handso in front of my date.” He gestured to , making blink in surprise. “You owe my girlfriend an apology for ignoring her. It’s disrespectful, and if it happens again, I will request a new server.”
Candy looked between us and stumbled through an apology.
Axel caught my gaze, and I couldn’t help but smile.
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